The Iron Bridge Community Association Inc. will soon be able to move to Phase 1 of its initiative to build a new playground and outdoor recreation structures after receiving City Council approval.

At the regular meeting on April 26, council voted unanimously to approve a license and construction agreement between the Town of Moose Jaw and the association for the construction and operation of outdoor recreation sites. in the Iron Bridge district. The council also authorized the mayor and the city clerk to sign the agreement on behalf of the municipality.

The deal follows the association’s January proposal to improve outdoor recreational facilities in the Iron Bridge subdivision through a community fundraising campaign.

Background

The association plans to build the outdoor recreation sites using a three-step approach, a report from the council said. The agreement is for 10 years and will be automatically renewed each year thereafter until renegotiated or terminated.

Phase 1 includes the construction of a multi-purpose outdoor sports field to accommodate activities such as basketball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball and badminton. The association has secured funding and will begin construction once the city administration approves all drawings and plans.

Phase 2 includes the installation of a seasonal outdoor ice rink on the surface of the sports field in winter and the construction of a utility / storage shed.

Phase 3 focuses on the construction of a community pavilion / gazebo with an outdoor fireplace.

The license and construction agreement includes several conditions that both parties have agreed to follow, the report says. For example, the association must sign an agreement with the municipality for each phase in order to secure appropriate obligations with the contractors working on the properties of the city. Once constructed, all exterior sites and improvements will become the property of the municipality.

Financially, the association is responsible for all operating, management, repair and maintenance expenses, including future repairs or capital improvements, the report says. The association can sell memberships and rent the venue – it cannot deny memberships or rentals to anyone living in the city – and can retain all income if the proceeds are used for operations and maintenance.

The town hall must give permission before the association sells advertising on the site, while all funds raised must be used for operation and maintenance. However, the municipality will bear all the costs of the utilities.

The association’s other responsibilities include providing sport-specific equipment and using the equipment for recreational activities or community events only, according to the report. He is also responsible for the coordination of all programs, maintenance and cleaning of waste.

The responsibilities of the municipality include granting a long-term lease of approximately one acre (0.4 hectare) of municipal reserve land for the playground and amenities and the provision of garbage cans, two nets of hockey and garden hoses to build the rink.

The two groups have agreed that the city will offer four hours of programming per week for May, June and September, while the association must maintain commercial liability insurance of $ 5 million per event. In addition, either party may unilaterally terminate the agreement by giving 90 days notice to the other.

Board discussion

The association has not indicated how much it will charge for rental or membership fees, said Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation. Meanwhile, he expects electricity costs to cost “a few hundred dollars a year” compared to full-size parks with lights that run between $ 1,600 and $ 2,000 a year.

The non-profit organization needs the approval of the municipality before it can change the ownership of the city or build anything, anything from Coun. Heather Eby enjoyed seeing. She also liked how the association has to demonstrate that it has funds before building anything, funding any capital renewal projects, and being responsible for cleaning up the garbage.

“(Overall) I think this is good news for Moose Jaw and Iron Bridge,” she added.

The next regular council meeting will be on Monday May 10th.